Diesel Direct - Diesel Technology Forum.
February is for Diesel Lovers Thanks to Chevrolet and Ram Trucks
New Chevy Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel to Accelerate Interest in Clean Diesel Autos in U.S.
"The[1] new [2]2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel passenger car unveiled at the[3] 2013 Chicago Auto Show is a bold statement about the future for clean diesel cars in the U.S. The Chevy Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel is coming at just the right time. New car sales are exceeding expectations and confidence in the new generation of diesel cars is at an all-time high, as evidenced by the double-digit increases in diesel sales in 20 of the last 24 months,” said Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the [4]Diesel Technology Forum. "In addition, the availability of diesel fuel continues to expand to beyond more than half of all U.S. stations.”
With automakers set to introduce more than 20 new clean diesel vehicles in North America this year, consumers will have almost double the number of choices currently available.
It’s official. clean diesel engines are now coming as an option to full-size half-ton pick-up trucks. Even as the hoopla from the Chevy Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel launch at the Chicago Auto Show was still playing on, [5]Ram Trucks made the diesel lovers heart skip a few beats by announcing that it will introduce a 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel pickup truck in the United States beginning in third quarter 2013. The popularity of pick-up trucks in the U.S. is unstoppable and the torque, range and fuel-efficiency from the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel engine will be extremely popular in the U.S. light-duty truck market. The 2013 Ram 1500 won Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year, The North American Truck of the Year and Truck of Texas. And that’s all before announcing the diesel option.
See a list of [6]Clean Diesel Vehicles Currently Available in the U.S.
Policy Insider
Highway Funding and State Motor Fuel Taxes Debates Raise Concern for Diesel Car Owners…"Diesel Fuel Not Just for Commercial Trucks Anymore"
Around the country, states are dealing with deteriorating infrastructure and dwindling revenues derived from motor fuels taxes and looking for a way forward. In the past, raising motor fuels taxes was very unpopular. However, recent reports suggest that years of deferred maintenance are leaving many drivers and transit users willing to accept some increase in taxes to pay for much needed repairs. But what is the right approach?
One of those proposals from Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell would penalize current and future owners of fuel-efficient clean diesel cars and trucks. On January 16, 2013 Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell proposed eliminating the state’s gasoline tax in favor of modestly increasing the state’s retail sales tax to boost transportation funding. While the proposal eliminates the gas tax, the governor’s plan still keeps in place the state’s tax on diesel fuel at 19 cents per gallon. That proposal is now making its way through the Virginia legislature. According the announcement, the diesel tax would remain since heavy-duty diesel trucks “cause much more wear and tear on roads and highways than gasoline powered light duty vehicles”. However, the proposal would unfairly burden the owners of roughly 121,000 registered passenger diesel vehicles in Virginia. An analysis done by the Diesel Technology Forum found that the average Virginia diesel car driver would pay an estimated $82 a year more in fuel taxes than a gasoline car owner, if the proposal were adopted.
The Washington Post reported that almost six out of 10 Virginians support the Governor’s plan, and the concepts’ popularity extends beyond Virginia. Already, legislation has been introduced in many states to increase motor fuels taxes. Some of this legislation seeks to increase diesel fuels taxes at a greater rate than gasoline in the belief that bigger trucks cause much greater wear and tear on roads and should pay more for their use.
However, this is an outdated assumption. No longer do diesel engines power only big rigs and construction equipment. Many light-duty cars and pickups trucks are powered by diesel. In fact, there are more registered diesel cars and trucks than hybrids in California. The growing interest in light-duty diesel among consumers has not gone unnoticed by automakers. Eleven light-duty diesel models were offered last year, 22 will be offered this year and many industry experts predict over 50 models will be introduced in 2014. These light-duty diesels exhibit enhanced fuel economy, sometimes rivaling that of a comparable hybrid, along with superior emissions reduction of many smog forming compounds.
Bottom line: A disparity in state fuels taxes that burdens a growing segment of the light-duty sector would discourage investments in an efficient and clean mode of transportation. For more information contact [16]efinkin@dieselforum.org.
DTF News
[17]World Ag Expo Features Advanced Diesel Machinery (USAgNet, February 13)
[18]Are You Ready to Cruze in a Diesel? (Video News Report – The Motley Fool, February 12)
[19]States get tougher on air standards (High Plains/Midwest AG Journal, February 11)
[20]Diesel engines are increasingly popular among automakers, drivers (Newsday, February 9)
[21]Detroit embraces diesel again after 27 years (NBCNEWS.com, February 8)
[22]Las Vegas Biodiesel Vehicle Showcase Features a Winning Combination (KNEB Rural Radio, February 8)
[23]Las Vegas Biodiesel Vehicle Showcase Features Biodiesel in Latest Clean Diesel Vehicles (Biofuels Digest, February 7)
[24]Clean diesel technology showcased at 10th Annual National Biodiesel Conference (American AG Radio Network, February 6)
California Corner - The state of California, looking at an improved financial picture, has announced that it will seek [25]additional bond moneys to be used for goods movement emissions reductions. Aimed at producing emissions reductions that would not otherwise be required by law or regulation, the state is planning to issue $150 million of awards to local government agencies to be used on heavy-duty trucks, freight locomotives and rail yards, cargo ships at berth or cargo handling equipment used in ports or rail yards, and commercial harbor craft. Deadline for agencies to apply for the funds is March 15, 2013. Previous awards have allocated $587 million to projects in Los Angeles/Inland Empire, the Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area and the San Diego/border region.
For more information about the Forum, visit our web site at www.dieselforum.org
References
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Diesel Technology Forum